For improved performance with BA.2 variants, spike-in primers can now be provided, for use in combination with VarSkip Short v2 primers. Please see this FAQ for more information, including primer sequences.
See below, including Figure 1 in the Product Information section, for information on VarSkip Short v2 performance with spike-in primers. Information on primer variant overlaps can be found here.
A bulk format (2,304 reactions) is also available. Please contact us for more information.
The NEBNext® ARTIC products were developed in response to the critical need for reliable and accurate methods for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing. These are based on the original work of the ARTIC Network(1) to develop a multiplexed amplicon-based whole-viral-genome sequencing approach.
NEBNext ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Module contains the reagents required for cDNA synthesis and targeted cDNA amplification from SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA.
This kit includes two options for primers, including new VarSkip Short v2 primers:
See below, including Figure 1 in the Product Information section, for information on VarSkip Short v2 performance with spike-in primers. Information on primer variant overlaps can be found here.
The V3 ARTIC primers have been balanced, using methodology developed at NEB based on empirical data from sequencing. In combination with optimized reagents for RT-PCR, the kits deliver improved uniformity of amplicon yields from gRNA across a wide copy number range.
Full kits that also include library prep reagents optimized for the ARTIC workflow are available, for smaller (~150 bp) (NEB #E7658) or larger (~400 bp) (NEB #E7650) insert libraries for Illumina® sequencing, and for Oxford Nanopore Technologies® sequencing (NEB #E7660). Note that E7650 does not include VarSkip v2 primers.
Includes two primer options: new VarSkip Short v2, for improved Omicron coverage, or ARTIC V3
Information on primer variant overlaps can be found here
Improved uniformity of SARS-CoV-2 genome coverage, with balanced primer pools
Effective with a wide range of viral genome inputs (10-10,000 copies)
The ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 protocol from the ARTIC Network is a multiplexed amplicon approach covering the whole viral genome. The NEBNext ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Module is based on this method and incorporates optimized reagents for the cDNA synthesis and targeted cDNA amplification steps.
A single RT protocol is used regardless of input amount (10-10,000 viral genome copies), and no normalization step is required ahead of targeted amplification.
This kit includes two options for primers, including new VarSkip Short v2 primers:
The VarSkip (for Variant Skip) Short primers have been designed at NEB to provide improved performance with SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Omicron variant. VarSkip Short v2 primer pools generate ~550bp amplicons. Please see the FAQ section and the product manual for additional detail. Information on primer variant overlaps can be found here.
The V3 ARTIC primers have been balanced, using methodology developed at NEB based on empirical data from sequencing. In combination with optimized reagents for RT-PCR, the kits deliver improved uniformity of amplicon yields from gRNA across a wide copy number range.
Full kits that also include library prep reagents optimized for the ARTIC workflow are available, for smaller (~150 bp) (NEB #E7658) or larger (~400 bp) (NEB #E7650) insert libraries for Illumina® sequencing, and for Oxford Nanopore Technologies® sequencing (NEB #E7660). Note that E7650 does not include VarSkip v2 primers.
Figure 1: Sequence coverage of SARS-CoV-2 genomes with VarSkip Short v2 plus spike-in primers
Consensus genomes known to be generated using VarSkip Short 2 (+ supplementary primers) (green) are compared with other genomes (yellow) submitted to Genbank between 2022-08-01 and 2022-09-24. Genomes were aligned to the NC_045512.2 reference (minimap2 -x map-ont -r 20000 --score-N=0, v.2.24). Ns were tabulated using Qualimap (v2.2.2).
Figure 2: Sequence coverage of a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clinical sample with updated primer schemes
Integrative Genome Viewer visualization of read coverage across the SARS-CoV-2 genome (log scale). Amplicons were generated using NEBNext® VarSkip Short SARS-CoV-2 v2 primer pools, NEBNext VarSkip Short SARS-CoV-2 primer pools, NEBNext ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 primer pools (ARTICv3), MilliporeSigma ARTICv4 primer pools plus IDT ARTICv4.1 spike-in primers (ARTICv4.1), or MilliporeSigma ARTICv4 primer pools. The same Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 viral gRNA clinical sample served as a template for all primer schemes except ARTICv3. Libraries were constructed using the NEBNext ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 FS Library Prep Kit (Illumina®) and sequenced on a MiSeq® instrument (2x75 bp). Coverage depth per base was determined, reads were down-sampled to 0.5M PE reads with seqtk and aligned to SARS-CoV-2 reference genome (NCBI, NC_045512) with Bowtie2.
Figure 3: Workflow for the NEBNext ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Module with VarSkip Short v2 or NEBNext ARTIC primers
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Quality, Safety & Legal
Quality Control Assays
Quality Control tests are performed on each new lot of NEB product to meet the specifications designated for it. Specifications and individual lot data from the tests that are performed for this particular product can be found and downloaded on the Product Specification Sheet, Certificate of Analysis, data card or product manual. Further information regarding NEB product quality can be found here.
Specifications & Change Notifications
Effective 2/15/2022 VarSkip Short v2 SARS-CoV-2 Primer Mixes 1 and 2 replace VarSkip Short SARS-CoV-2 Primer Mixes 1 and 2.
The Specification sheet is a document that includes the storage temperature, shelf life and the specifications designated for the product. The following file naming structure is used to name these document files: [Product Number]_[Size]_[Version]
The Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a signed document that includes the storage temperature, expiration date and quality controls for an individual lot. The following file naming structure is used to name these document files: [Product Number]_[Size]_[Version]_[Lot Number]
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This product is intended for research purposes only. This product is not intended to be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes in humans or animals.
New England Biolabs (NEB) is committed to practicing ethical science – we believe it is our job as researchers to ask the important questions that when answered will help preserve our quality of life and the world that we live in. However, this research should always be done in safe and ethical manner. Learn more.
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